ALBANY — Leon Levy knew something was off when he woke up on Dec. 21 last year.

A creature of habit, he was out of bed early and at the gym for a workout before heading to the office, much like any other Wednesday. With four days left until Christmas, Levy — an associate broker with Prudential Manor Homes in Delmar — played Santa and delivered gifts to his clients' children. As the day progressed, so too did a severe headache, slurred speech and an uneasy feeling that he couldn't shake.

After tying up loose ends at work, Levy drove to Albany Memorial Hospital and was then transported to Samaritan Hospital. After his brain was X-rayed, he was brought back to Albany Memorial and ended up at Albany Medical Center Hospital. Doctors there broke the news that he had suffered a left cerebellar stroke, which affects balance, muscle coordination on the right side, speech and fine motor skills.

"My first thought was, 'Why me?' " said Levy, 49. "But my doctors put it in perspective when they told me to think about how much worse it could have been if I didn't eat well and exercise."

Strokes, which are the third leading cause of death in the United States, occur when blood flow and oxygen are cut off from the brain. Common symptoms include: sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; problems seeing out of one or both eyes and double vision; trouble walking, loss of balance or dizziness; and severe headache with no known cause.

Levy considers himself lucky. He was in the hospital for three days, and with the help of his colleagues, including Melissa Hems and Teresa Gil, has made a full recovery.

"It's hard to describe what I saw in the hospital, other than to say that a stroke can be completely debilitating," Levy said. "I'm using what I experienced as springboard to raise money and awareness for those less fortunate than I was."

Levy, along with Prudential Manor Homes and the National Stroke Association, has initiated a fundraising drive to help stroke survivors regain their dignity and quality of life. His goal is to raise $10,000 in May, which is Stroke Awareness Month, and he's about a quarter of the way there.

Jim Baranski, CEO of the association, flew to Albany from Los Angeles earlier this month to kick off the campaign. Jay Christiana, president of Prudential Manor Homes, and Charles Colehamer, manager of the Delmar office, were also on hand.

"Dec. 21 was the winter solstice and the darkest day of the year," Levy said. "The days following literally got brighter, and that's what I decided to do with my experience — turn it into something positive."